College works with local businesses to provide successful Apprenticeship programmes

The government invested £1.5bn in Apprenticeships in 2013/2014, during which time, more than 850,000 people were working as apprentices. Shrewsbury College is one of the main providers in Shropshire working with the government to increase this number and provide first-class Apprenticeship programmes.

The College has been providing Apprenticeships for over 20 years and works closely with local employers and industry professionals to offer Apprenticeships in over ten leading sectors, from accounting to childcare and engineering to sport.

According to statistics taken from the Gov.uk website, almost nine out of every 10 employers which take on an apprentice report benefits to their business.

Doncasters Shrewsbury has been working closely with Shrewsbury College for over five years to provide placements for apprentices. As a business, Doncasters, has a long legacy in technical expertise and is fortunate to be celebrating its centenary year at its Sentinel Works facility.

The business manufactures products in the Aerospace & Gas Turbine markets as well as providing Repair and Overhaul services. They have around 225 employees covering a breadth of capabilities, many of which are or were apprentices.

Simon Ward, General Manager of Doncasters Shrewsbury site, said: ““I am fortunate to be part of a business that has a good proportion of long service employees balanced with a strong apprentice scheme. By continuing to invest in people through Apprenticeship schemes, our Shrewsbury site continues to ensure that the skills within the business are retained and developed.

“The Apprenticeship schemes give people a great opportunity to learn skills in the classroom and then be able to transfer the theory into practice within the business. Furthermore, the support in both the classroom and Doncasters ensures that apprentices are able to talk to people from other industries but also experienced operators with life-long experience to share.

“When I first joined the business we had 15 apprentices, of which seven have now completed their Apprenticeships and have progressed into the business as skilled employees. The remaining apprentices continue to grow and I look forward to them supporting the business for years to come as well. We are currently looking for the next apprentices, which will form part of our 100 year celebration of manufacturing on the site located on Whitchurch Road.”

There are currently eight apprentices from Shrewsbury College working towards their Advanced Apprenticeship at Doncasters.

Chris Pemberton, Assistant Principal for Operations, at Shrewsbury College, said: “It is always a pleasure working with employers like Doncasters who place such a high value on apprenticeships as a preferred training route.”

For more information about Apprenticeships at Shrewsbury College, please call 01743 342411 or click here Alternatively you can come along to our next Advice Event, on Thursday 19, March, 5 – 7pm.

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Year 11 Progression Event
27 Sep, 4-7.30pm

A one-stop-shop to explore the post school choices available to pupils starting Year 11 in September 2017, including Qualifications Explained, travel information, careers advice and study and financial support from organisations across Shropshire.